Had a friend that the doctors gave six months to live he had a dream that he drank and the next day the doctor came back apologizing that a mistake was made and they had the wrong person !!!! My friend is gone now passed away sober, Love you Ed M for who you were not what alcohol is.

Why would I not want to experience fully and remember my experience of the last 6 months of my life? There has already been so much I either missed or do not remember from my many years of drinking. And so many missed opportunities. If life is a precious gift, then death is too, and I certainly wouldn't want to miss my own death, which may well present "another growth opportunity."

My home group that I have been a member of for over 20 years and have seen the rise and fall of members, which I have come to understand is a natural occurrence of many groups is once again in a flux and has called a group meeting to discuss some issues? I was raised around this wonderful live giving program with a father who has now 55 years sobriety. I was privileged to be a member of alateen and a very confused Al-anon member until I finally figured out maybe I had the problem and joined AA. My question out there is concerning this group consciousness meeting is that I have been involved with them before but mainly as an observer and I am no longer able at this time able to take a back seat and am in need of some guidance so no damage is done in addressing some of the issues that are needing to be discussed. Some matters are small and can be handle well such as one person is always wanting to chair and the rest of the members just find it easier to let it happen that way, interruptions when others are talking. Bigger issues concerning being addressed is that people are being told they cannot attend unless certain conditions are meet and I am a big believer in the traditions since I was raised hanging around with a lot of the old timers and their way of working things. Any suggestions would be most welcome.
Small town group

Perhaps its time for a group inventory? Check out the pamphlet, The A.A. Group, for the questions raised in the inventory. In addition a member well versed in the traditions and concepts is key to act as the moderator of the inventory -- you don't want to get caught up in the ISM: I-Sponsor-Myself.

It was suggested to me to read the aa pamphlet the group. it can be found in an aa liturature rack or at http://www.aa.org/pdf/products/p-16_theaagroup.pdf in pdf form.
You will find most of the answers you seek there. If you are like me, you will also be surpised by some of the content. for example is states non alcoholics may attend "open" meetings as observers. Go back to your group and see how many people think they can participate in your closed meetings, much less open meetings as non alcoholics.
I should also mention that each group has a right to be wrong. AA groups are meant to be self correcting. If an AA group is not practicing the 12 steps and 12 traditions, it eventually dies. That's what I think makes AA work.

There is no reason for the group to practice the steps.
We practice the steps as individuals. If a group does not
understand the Traditions and does not practice them, the
group does not necessairly die. It just loses its effectiveness. It does not grow, because new mwmbers
are pushed away by the way the group is conducted. That is
why A.A. is no longer working the way it should. Sure,
we gain a few but the masses are turned away, many before
they even approach us.
A group has the right to be wrong. It has the legal
right to be wrong. No one can punish or expell anyone.
We have a moral obligation to investigate to determine if
anything is wrong, and the responsibility to make
corrections. We do this through a properly conducted
group conscience meeting. I described a group conscience
meeting earlier in another category, but I will cover it
again soon. We use some of Robert's rules of Order, and
Bill W.'s advice concerning the value of the minority
opinion.
Thanks for the information about the non-alcoholic
attending open A.A. meetings as an observer. They ought
not be invited to participate, only observe. It is
really that simple. If someone states my name is Joe
and I am an addict, "someone" should "say something". It
ought to be part of the format, read loud and clear.
Groups will not correct themselves if "self"
remains silent. Stand up and speak out. ANONYMOUS

In the past three years our membership has increased about 15,000 members per year. That
is an average of 41 alcoholics per day. Some A.A. members may see this as satisfactory, about
all we can expect. But look at it this way: We have approximately 60,000 groups in the U.S.
and Canada. Only one group out of four gained one member in a whole year. That is just dismal.
We have an army of two million A.A. members whose primary purpose is to help other alcoholics
to gain sobriety. When the membership numbers are examined, it can be seen that we had
almost two and a half million members in 1992. We should have continued to grow at a steady
rate. We did that for over fifty years, actually doubling about every ten years. What has
happened to cause our stagnation. Many A.A. members and others have reasons which may
make some sense. I think they are mostly rationalizations, although may contain some
truth. I believe most of the reasons are posted on I-SAY. If A.A. is going to be here
for the suffering alcoholic in future generations, we must get involved and make
corrections where mistakes have been made. Bill W. had absolute faith that faults
in Alcoholics Anonymous would be self-correcting. That self is us. ANONYMOUS

Reading this letter in the aa grapevine 9/12 titled "the birdcage" perfectly shows the intolerance in AA as well as our society as a whole, of which AA is just a microcosm. We have a Primary purpose, helping the still sick and suffering alcoholic. Doesn't matter if they believe in god, or are atheist, straight or gay, black or white, youung or old. This writer probably didn't complain when the grapevine focused on white, Christian heterosexuals, but as soon as their is difference the anger boils to the surface. In my home group, an agnostic group, the area chair came and spied on our group, to see if they could throw us out of the meeting list for "breaking tradition". Our society as well as AA is I n a scared, reactive phase, and anyone who is not mainstream gets hurt. Sad but. True

Alcohol is the enemy of the alcoholic. Sprititual Pride
is the enemy of A.A. If we keep religion and our fellowship
separate, everyone wins. When we combine the two, few come
out as winners. That seems to be the conundrum. Enough
alcoholic recoveries come out of the combination, that it appears successful. If no one recovered from the combination of the two, failure would be evident. But some alcoholics
do recover by using religion. I believe in history that
has always been true.
Alcoholics Anonymous was never supposed to become a
TWELVE STEP PROGRAM. We have evolved into a TWELVE STEP
PROGRAM over the course of about thirty years. As such
some alcoholics do recover. As a fellowship of men and
women (as our preamble still reads) we offer a solution
to the multitudes. We are supposed to be using the
twelve steps as an adjunct, not the main course. They
are but suggestions. It was very difficult to unlearn
something that I had personally taught for 35 long
years. It was almost like trying to unring a bell.
Today I understand what Dr. Silkworth's advice to
Bill W. really meant. Bill Wrote many times that
without that advice A.A. could never have been born.
I was forced to investigate. I ask you to do this
investigation on your own. Read page 199 in "As Bill
sees it", as well as the rest of A.A. history.
To conclude, the reading of How It Works aloud
at meetings, and the acceptance of the 24hr book
into A.A. Tradition have almost destroyed our
fellowship. (not Fellowship). ANONYMOUS

I agree with much of what you post. The 24hr book should be read at home and not at our meetings. An AA advisory action suggest that our groups only sell and display AA conference approved liturature at our meetings.

AA is also not a 12 step program, it IS the original 12 step program. As I think about the book Alcoholics Anonymous, I go back to page 58 If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any lenght to get it then you are ready to take certain steps
76- Remember it was agreed at the beginning we would go to any lenghts for victory over alcohol (for me that includes working 12 steps)
page 79-Reminding ourselves that we have decided to go to any lenghts to find a spiritual experience.....

In the forward to the first addition it says "to show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book".

We have an entire book that lays out what works best. not neccesarily a line or two from AA comes of age, although I do agree with the cart before the horse. That same idea is laid out in chapter 2 and 3 of the big book

I feel our whole program is a suggestion, not suggesting to cut it up in pieces. work all 12 steps or none at all, it's up to you. page 59 says half measures availed us nothing! If anyone ever says take what you want and leave the rest, they didn't get that from AA conferenced approved books. The got it from Narcotics Anonymous. I know because I read it in their book! Don't take my word for it, look for yourself
Thanks
Corey

Please take a look at page 8 in The Language of the
Heart book. Bill writes about the most powerful authority
known, the authority of his full consent, willingly
given. Read the entire article pages 6-9.
The foundation of Alcoholics Anonymous is allowing
the member approaching us to "Take what you want and
leave the rest".
A man or woman, who is concerned about their drinking,
is encouraged to attend an A.A. meeting. It may be
mandated by a spouse, doctor, friend or the courts.
They are allowed to attend an open A.A. meeting to
observe. They may admit that they are alcoholic at the
first meeting, but it is not necessary, if they just
choose to observe.
The new person is allowed absolute complete freedom
to stay or to go. If we make no demands of them and if
they like what they see, hopefully they will stay:
Attraction, not promotion. If we just share what
we were like, what happened to us, and what we are
like now, how can we possibly fail? Sounds a bit
self-centered but if we remain humble, we will not
fail. Humility is what is missing in today's
A.A. "program". Spiritual pride is killing A.A.
Your enthusiasm for our fellowship is admirable.
I also ask you to try to develop a full understanding
of the " CART BEFORE THE HORSE IDEA" offered to Bill by Dr. Silkworth. Study Bill's approach to Dr. Bob. Page 70 A.A.C.A.
On page 222 in Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers offers
one definition of Humility. I keep searching for it.
ANONYMOUS

As a TWELVE STEP PROGRAM, we are saving about 15,000
alcoholics each year. As a fellowship of men and women,
I believe we can save at least 150,000 every year. Can
you fully understand what that means to the alcoholic
and the family and friends of the alcoholic.
I am convinced that hundreds of thousands of alcoholics
are still approaching A.A. every year. As a TWELVE STEP PROGRAM we help and hold a few. The rest are turned away
by the way our groups are conducted. Many more do not even
approach us because of our reputation as a cult/religion.
We read the preamble detailing what Alcoholics Anonymous
is. And then we give new members our own demands and requirements ignoring what we have just read. Not
allied with any sect, but reading: That One is God!
May you find Him NOW! We have only one requirement for
membership, but you had better get a sponsor and do 90
meetings in 90 days. Else you are not going to make it.
Half measures will avail you nothing! Relax, Easy Does
It? Not for today's steps crammers and Big Book thumpers.
Study the technique which worked when Bill W. approached
Dr Bob. Read page 70 in A.A.C.A. Bill tells us how A.A.
really worked. Our membership doubled that day and
continued to double about every ten years until
the early 1990's, when the presence of fundamentalists
and cults finally took hold of A.A. ANONYMOUS

Maybe this will help in trying to explain. Why do you
think the 24 hr book is not appropriate to use in the A.A.
rooms? Is it because of an advisory action rejecting it
by our conference? Suppose our next conference approves
the book? It was brought to the conference in 1972. It
was rejected for the second time. I would not be
surprised if the conference approves it although we
do not own it. I cringe when I think of the fact that I
would have voted for approval until five years ago. This
was discussed ad nauseam on I-SAY.
It is commonly agreed that Bill W. and his friends
rejected the 24 hr book because of its strong religious
nature. Using the book pushes God on newcomers. True,
some may be ready for this approach, but I believe
we lose many members by combining the 24hr book and
"How It Works". What an order! Let me out of here!
I believe many alcoholics approaching A.A. have
already tried religion. And religion has failed them.
Most sober members today are sober due to a belief
in God (I believe). But not because it is crammed
down their throats. Little by slowly they see that
life is just better with A.A. and God. We literally
give them enough rope to convince themselves.
Page 199 in "As Bill Sees It" and the related
stories in Language of the Heart, offer much in
explaining this. I try to keep an open mind. But
I am convinced that the reading of HIW combined
with the 24 hr book (aloud at meetings) has
turned our fellowship into a Fellowship. At least
try to understand. We are all looking for the
best way to help the most. I am sure that is
something we all agree on. ANONYMOUS

Thanks for the comments. I just wish that more A.A.
members could find this forum. I consider I-SAY as a
worldwide Group conscience meeting where everyone gets
to express their beliefs, and sometimes facts.
To show alcoholics precisely how we have recovered
is the main purpose of this book. It does not read: To
tell other alcoholics how THEY can recover. These do
not mean the same thing.
Several monumental changes were made just before
the Big Book went to the publishers. How "we" have recovered
was origionally How "they" can recover. The "follow our
directions" was changed to "follow our path". The 12
steps became the 12 suggested steps. The entire Big
Book was described as suggestive only. Personally
much more has been revealed to me. I spent 35 years
with many of your beliefs, and and called the
steps Damned-Well-Betters. It was not until 2007, when
I discovered
that our effectiveness in helping other alcoholics
to recover was diminishing. My first reaction is that
we need to pound harder on the Big Book and push harder
on the steps, cramming them if necessary. The 24 hr
book had become a fixture at meetings I attended.
I have discovered that these were the very
things which are killing us. You are as concerned
about suffering alcoholics, as most of us are.
Consider this without getting angry. The 12
Steps are an adjunct to our A.A. fellowship. Bill
W. was not the originator of the princples contained
in the twelve steps. These have been around for
centuries. Bill just devised a method of administrating
them to the alcoholic that reaches the suffering man
or woman at great depth. That is attraction, not
promotion.
I know how difficult this is to understand. It has
taken me another five years to really get a grasp on
my convictions. Most of them are posted here. ANONYMOUS

Reading this letter in the aa grapevine 9/12 titled "the birdcage" perfectly shows the intolerance in AA as well as our society as a whole, of which AA is just a microcosm. We have a Primary purpose, helping the still sick and suffering alcoholic. Doesn't matter if they believe in god, or are atheist, straight or gay, black or white, youung or old. This writer probably didn't complain when the grapevine focused on white, Christian heterosexuals, but as soon as their is difference the anger boils to the surface. In my home group, an agnostic group, the area chair came and spied on our group, to see if they could throw us out of the meeting list for "breaking tradition". Our society as well as AA is I n a scared, reactive phase, and anyone who is not mainstream gets hurt. Sad but. True

I got sober in the San Francisco Bay area in the 70's. Chapt 5 HIW was read from the first meeting I attended. Over the years I have seen small changes in meetings. I travelled over the US for work and attended meetings on both coasts. Yes there were some minor differences but HIW was read at all meetings. Gone are the smoke filled rooms that I remember and there were some changes when Fr. Martin became popular, alcoholism wasn't as "back room" as it had been and people who had spilled some white wine on a Saturday night cocktail party started showing up at some of the most popular meetings. It was disturbing to some but as with all things in AA we tolerated everyone who attended and tried to extend AA to all. Then the religious (not spiritual) movement appeared and many of us were again asked to be tolerant. Then came the "thank you" after someone spoke which never happened that I can remember in the early days, you just spoke and then passed and that was it. I think the one thing that has been consistent over the years is AA groups ability to stay true to the principles and move through the trends. I still attend 4+ meetings a week and have AA to thank for my life.

I assume the Fr. Martin mentioned in the above post is Father Martin®, the chap who claimed he was an alcoholic and dressed up as a priest to give 'AA'? video lectures. These videos are now posted on the internet as a public face of Alcoholics Anonymous, along with an online store selling a variety of products. I wonder how many AA members know Fr. Martin® is an outside enterprise; a registered trademark of Ashley Inc. This information can be found on the Hazelden website and Father Martin’s Ashley website. I think AA has a problem with a number of outside enterprises interfering in AA affairs. The claim made on the Father Martin’s Ashley website that Alcoholics Anonymous World Services Inc. granted permission to refer to the Twelve Steps of A.A. in these films concerns me. Because I understand this to be a misuse of the AA name which gives an implied endorsement to an outside enterprise. It seems to me the root cause of the concerns about cult like behaviour and religious fundamentalism in AA can be traced to a number individuals and organizations who have exploited AA in order to gain money, power, or prestige.

It is great to hear your tolerance :-). I am glad that AA is open to all who have a desire to stop drinking. I did not drink nearly as much as some, but drinking nearly ruined my life and the lives of others many times. I was obsessed and could not always drink without getting drunk despite not intending to. I am not religious, but do not worry about the Christian influence. I just try to learn from it. I am comfortable using God as a shorthand for my own conception of a higher power. Without AA, I was unable to stay sober. With AA, my last drunk is now nearly three years in the past. I understand the concerns about what to include in meetings and agree that keeping it simple is good. I know for me I was desperate and motivated to come back regardless of some of these small things that sometimes cause concern.

I believe this to be a topic of great importance and
urgency. Mort J. started an A.A. meeting in Los Angeles'
Cecil Hotel in early 1940. Mort insisted on a reading
from Chapter five at every session. Info. from page 93 A.A.C.A.
The preamble had not yet appeared. Mort used a reading
from Chapter Five to open his meetings. I do not believe
that the first two and a half pages of HIW. was read
at every meeting. I have found nothing in A.A. history
to indicate that he read the HIW of today.
The reading of HIW began at meetings on the East
Coast around 1980. I had attended meetings regularly
for ten years minus the reading. When it was suggested
at my home group, I made a feeble atttempt to prevent
the reading. It was time consuming and after all it
was chapter five, not chapter one. But I accepted it
and probably read it at meetings a hundred times
in the 1980's and the 1990's. I would sometimes stand
saying loud and clear, "This is how it works".
I seldom questioned it or thought much about it
for those 20 years. It is a beautiful reading, one
of the most beautiful readings in our literature.
In 2007 I found out that our fellowship had lost
about half a million members in the 1990's. No one
told me. I had to inquire.
My investigation has revealed about ten changes
at the meeting level since 1980. I believe they are
all mistakes, serious blunders, using one of Bill
W's words. I believe that the reading of HIW from the
podium at meetings is the most horrible mistake we
have ever made. My conclusion came after reading about
Bills first six months of sobriety, and the approach
he was using. I call it the How It Works approach.
That approach did not work for Bill W. and seldom
works for us today. Dr. Silkworth's IDEA offers
further explanation. Read pages 159 and 160 in
Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age. Bill explains
where he placed HIW and why. Reading HIW places
the "cart in front of the horse".
We made many other mistakes in our generation.
The "thanks for sharing" chant is more than just
annoying and distracting. The Hi Joe! chant is
weird and startles newcomers. Chanting makes us
look foolish to the general public.
The sharing by "show of hands" presents many
problems having to do with EGO. We always did the
"Round Robin" until about 1980 in eastern states.
Another serious mistake is the "Hold hands and
Pray" closing, coercing everyone to join in the
ring around the rosy circle. In the 1970's we
simply stood by our chairs, not holding hands.
I suppose when you came into A.A. in California
These rituals had already begun. They slowly
moved through A.A. and now have reached around the
world. Reading HIW turned A.A. into a religion.
Chanting and todays concept of sponsorship have
turned A.A. into a cult. All of these distortions
could be reversed and will have to be reversed if
our fellowship is to survive. We have been
"spinning our wheels" for two decades now, and
could continue for several more decades before
collapsing completely. Thanks for reading. ANONYMOUS

Our group opens with the pre emble, we read pg 30 & 1/2 of 31 from the bb, so we all hear what alcoholism is. then we read a traidition in long form from the back of the big book. finally we read a portion of the first164 pg of th bb and discuss. works great!

I just wanted to put it ou there, we are starting a closed mtg and would like a kind and considerate way to express that you only need to qualify as an alcoholic to attend our meeting. any comments or experience would be great.

from aa.org website, card/statement that was made available to groups.

THIS IS A CLOSED MEETING
OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
This is a closed meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. In
support of A.A.'s singleness of purpose, attendance at
closed meetings is limited to persons who have a desire
to stop drinking. If you think you have a problem with
alcohol, you are welcome to attend this meeting. We ask
that when discussing our problems, we confine ourselves
to those problems as they relate to alcoholism.
(The 1987 General Service Conference made this statement available as an A.A. service
piece for those groups who wish to use it.)

Thanks for the comment. I was looking more for how groups proceed from that point.

Does the secretary speak up or ask them to leave? Do you quietly approach them after the meeting and explaine this is for alchoholics? Say nothing and wait for them to quit coming?

I recently read in the AA conference approved pamphlet "The AA Group" something that is interesting. It said non alcholics may attend "open" meetings as observers. Look into it. It is there in black and white. Even to participate in "open" meetings you should be at least an alcoholic.

I have observed nonalcoholics fully participating in "closed" meetings. I think it's another sign of us getting away from our primary purpose. Probably a cause of our meetings becoming less effective with helping alcoholics recover from alcoholism. After all, this is "Alcoholics" Anonymous. Better to to one thing good than many poorly!

It amazes me that Bill left us so much information.
We distort much of it by not thoroughly reading it. Of
course, that was the purpose of open meetings in the
earlier days. To allow interested persons to observe.
Meetings were clearly identified in order to protect
anonymity. Members knew that outsiders were going to
possibly be in attendance. But non-alcoholics were
only allowed to observe. This would allow a potential
member to attend without admitting to being alcoholic.
Open or closed meetings ought to be clearly identified
as such. AANONYMOUS

Nothingness is the incubator of All That Is. The spark of an idea births a thought that attracts thoughts and a feeling or vibration ensues as the vision develops and a reality is created, a physical manifestation of a dream. It may entail a lot of physical work, but not always. The Big Book asks a great question, "Either God is everything or God is nothing. What was our choice to be?" To me, the Creative Life Force is Everything and Nothing, and the concept of a Godhead just does not work for me. There are people in AA who have been sober for decades not believing in a god. The ones I know exude serenity and confidence and never argue over what he Bible says or are inclined to support religious based laws or wars. I have never found them to be the devils described by believers.

Does it get any uglier? Do you think it's the part of yourself that you just can't forgive? Shouldn't we lend extra support to anyone that shares the same affliction? So many questions...but, there's one thing I know - When you join hands and repeat "Keep coming back", there are NO time or condition limits.

back home again slowly gaining back what once was, same ole song and dance that i seem to know all to well, anyhow, my dilema..female companionship i am an alcoholic native american from the U-P did very well while sober 7 years but out of the blue....now that i am here and she is not...i'm scared its been a long hard 18 months, i'm lonely i live in a somewhat remote area there are meetings, but because of the "village" like atmosphere..i cannot open my inner most feelings..i know there are some who continue to use and still come to meetings i don't know at my age what my options are, i do know that i do not want to drink...ever..i am sure i need someone to share my time with..i'll talk to the creator

What do you do when a AA member comes to the meeting drunk? Do you run him off? Let him stay as long as he keeps quiet?
Well this week this happened in our group. A member came in drunk. No-one, including the chairperson, knew what to do.Some wanted him to stay, as long as he kept quiet,and some wanted him to leave.
When it came to the guy's(drunk) time to share, the chair-person let him speak,but tried to cut him off,by saying "thanks for sharing" ,before he was finished.
That went over well. Telling someone who is drunk to shut up, is like cleaning dynomite with a blow torch.Next thing you know members are up in arms. Some for the drunk and some wanting him to shut up and leave.
So what do you think? Do you allow someone to come to a meeting drunk, as long as he behaves himself or not?

I attend Pills Anonymous as well as AA meetings. At the beginning of our PA meetings, we ask that "if you have used in the last 24 hours, please refrain from sharing." it seems to have reduced issues from somebody who is under the influence tying up the floor with long winded rambling. All with the desire to stop using are welcome as long as they are not disruptive.

What better place for someone who is drunk, than an AA meeting? The only requirement is a desire to stop drinking. If nothing else, it will reinforce to those sober members at the meeting, what they looked like drunk and also that it doesn't get any better "out there".

I HAVE ALSO SEEN PEOPLE DRUNK IN MEETINGS .THE ONLY REQUIREMENT FOR MEMBERSHIP IS A DESIRE TO STOP DRINKING, I ALWAYS PRAY FOR THESE PEOPLE! THE COURAGE TO ACCEPT THE THINGS WE CANNOT CHANGE AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE ITS SAD BUT IT HAPPENS AND PLEASE LET THEM BE HEARD OR ELSE WE WILL SCARE THEM OFF .

I wouldn't have a problem if an active drunk came to meetings. I would let the new member know that sometimes meetings make more sense when I don't drink before I go.

I had a sponsee that went to meetings drunk. I was grateful that she was willing to go to meetings.

We all get sober in our own time. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. If the active drunk does not identify as an alcoholic, I would object if s/he came to a closed meeting.

Yeah, it happens. My club allows them to stay as long as there is no disruptiion of the meeting. I just remember that was me and now I have let my higher power take over and enjoy a life I NEVER thought I would have.

You never give up do you? Thanks for your observation
and your relentless focus on this topic of sponsorship.
Bill W. wrote about the lack of proper sponsorship.
Today's concept of sponsorship is far from being
proper. Sponsorship of the past 10-20 years has
caused our reputation as a cult.
We must "lose" the title sponsor in A.A. If this
lable "SPONSOR" is deleted, then the real sponsor
or mentor will re-appear, without the hierarchy
or the title.
Thanks for your continued persistance. I have
found a lot of mistakes which have been made, but
I never picked up on this one. You have enlightened
me and many others,I am sure. ANONYMOUS

Ultimately it is up to the group. One of the groups I attend regularly decided at a group conscience to allow the intoxicated to sit in a meeting as long as they are respectful and not disruptive, but does not allow them to share. Thus, if someone is obviously intoxicated, they are told this at the beginning of the meeting. If it only becomes apparent after the meeting is started that they are drunk, then the chairperson or someone else needs to interrupt the meeting to explain the group conscience. When someone started their share by indicating they were drunk, they were interrupted and told of thee group conscience, told they were welcome to stay. They did not. The nice thing about having the policy in place is that there is no room for debate, and debating the intoxicated is a waste of air.

Every person at an meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous ought
to be given equal time to share. If I had been told at
my first meeting: "Be quiet, you are drunk", I doubt that
I would have ever come back. We come to AA meetings as
absolute equals. We need the drunk as much as she/he may
need us. The problem here is not someone being drunk
at an AA meeting. The problem is sharing by a "show of
hands". Asking if anyone has a burning desire is, for
lack of a better word, stupid. Alcoholics always have
burning desires, drunk or sober. Simply going around
the room, allowing each member equal time to share
is the best way. Yes, I have done years of research,
although not scientifically, just observation. I spent
ten years in our AA rooms using what is sometimes
called "round robin". In that ten year period our
membership tripled. We gained about 600,000 new
members in that decade. Then started the "Anyone
new or just coming back?" ritual. We started to
read "How it Works", turning AA into a religion.
We started chanting, turning AA into a cult. With
todays concept of sponsorship, the cult nature of
AA is complete. Holding hands and praying at
meetings completes our religious nature. It really
surprises me that AA has survived as long as it
has. But today we are spinning our wheels, churning,
only holding a few new members. We can continue that
way for decades, actually failing most who come to
us for help. Or we can stop all chanting, stop all
praying at meetings. Stop reading HIW aloud at meetings.
Remove all redundant readings. The preamble says it
all. I just wish it read public controversy, instead
of just controversy. We have always had squabbles in
AA and hopefully we always will. Sorry so doom and
gloom. Sometimes I fear that our fellowship is
doomed. But my delegate says that we may still be
able to "turn this ship around". He says to keep
sounding the alarm, someone might eventually hear.
So obediently I continue. And I am eternally grateful
for the supporting messages. ANONYMOUS

I think you need to call for a group conscience meeting, either after a meeting or at your group business meeting to discuss this. Your guide on this question should be Tradition 1 & 4 in the long form. Tradition 1.- Each member of AA is but a small part of a greater whole. AA must continue to live or most of us will surly die. Hence our common welfare comes first. But individual welfare follows close afterward.

This tradition argues for both sides but I think it comes down on the side of the group survival so if the intoxicated drunk threatens the groups unity then he needs to be dealt with.
The first sentence of Tradition 4.-With respect to its own affairs, each AA group should be responsible to no other authority then its own conscience.
So your group may choose to ignore the problem and hope it doesn’t occur to often.
Your group might ask that the obviously intoxicated not share but listen only
Or if disruptive or threatening a member may be asked to leave.

As you already know these matters can deeply divide a group and any decision needs careful consideration just remember to always place principles before personalities.

I learned awhile back that people generally learn in 3 ways. Some by reading, some by doing, and some by listening and whatching. Usually a combination of the three.

I personally learn mostly by reading. Throughout my life I have had the ability to read a textbook or manual and put into practice what was written.

I have a friend that learns by doing. He learned the aa program by doing what was suggested.

I have another friend who learns by whatching. He would go to meetings and along on 12 step calls and observe what was going on and later apply it.

Some people learn by a combination of the 3. They can study the big book, practice what its says, and observe other AAs trying to practice the program.

In my experience with newcomers, I have found it is important for them to attend a variety of meetings. In doing so they will meet a wide variety of people who learn and work the program in a way that might fit them best.

After pondering the diversity in AA, I now have a deep appreciation for it. I now embrace it instead of fight it. I have a new attitude toward the whole situation. I guess you could call it a change in feeling and outlook!

I have been in AA for 23 years. I got sober in the San Francisco Bay Area in the AIDS fueled '80s when AIDS treatment seemed to send millions of gays and lesbians into the rooms of AA. The flavor of AA in coastal California reflected the progressive culture of the area and the tolerant feeling of the LGBT community. As politics and culture swung from one polarity to another, during the 90's religious fundamentalism started creeping into the rooms of AA and the Lord's Prayer began making a resurgence in meeting and "Jesus is my Higher Power" seemed to be heard more and more. As an agnostic, I had some tolerance for religiosity, since it is at the root of the AA history. I learned to work my program on the basis of "take what you need and leave the rest." When I approached the 20 year mark, I felt more intolerance at meetings for a message that did not include christian tenants - and I don't just mean the word "god." There is so much more to a christian overlay onto our recovery program. I started a series of "god-free" meetings that we lovingly called "The Godless Heathens." We attracted the buddhists, wickens, crystal worshiping agnostics and athiest that are the core of my program today. It was glorious! Our meetings were deep and profound and amazingly supportive of real transformation and sobriety. We were not trying to "get saved" we were trying to "live sober." Now I am in Maryland and I feel as if I have gone back to the bad old days. Are there any "godless heathens" out there who would be interested in working a non religious AA program with like minded people?? I'll do the legwork if there are other kindred spirits out there?

I have been sober for almost 30 years and I have not perceived any change in the number of discussions involving religion over that period of time. Maybe it is a choice of meetings and I am just fortunate, but on the rare occasion someone "rambles on" about specific religion or relgious practice an elder member of the group usually pulls the person aside after the meeting and has a loving constructive chat with them - explaining what AA is and is not. This usually works for all but the belligerent ones, and there will always be a few of those.

lol i used to live out west and knew alot of people in recovery who were not religiuos thats why i try to leave it out as much as possible even though i am in my first thirty days when i had some time before in the program i learned alot about other people and respecting them and not running the new commer off that may not believe in jesus i must admit i have done it a few times because i do believe in jesus but i try my best to just call my higher power god wheather it be a bible god or a door knob or a shoe lace or anything else so i hope you find someone to help today is my thirty day birthday keep writing and posting love ya

Believe it or not, the Alcoholics Anonymous of the 1970s
was a-religious. But it must have been seen by Bill W. that A.A. was becoming a religion, as early as 1957. Bill
wrote in AACA (bottom of page 232), that nothing could be
so unfortunate to A.A.'s future as an attempt to turn our
fellowship into a religion. Most of us know that has happened. Bill repeated that warning in an April 1963 article to the AAGRAPEVINE. I personally feel that this
was due to the 24hr being introduced into A.A. tradition.
Any alcoholic approaching A.A. anywhere, ought to find
meetings basically the same. The meetings I went to in the
seventies were all basically the same. All members were
treated the same and each was allowed to speak her/his
own monologue. The God-fearing lover of Jesus was
accepted as well as the A.A. member who had no belief in
God at all.
Today's A.A. member believes that in order to get
sober and stay sober an alcoholic has to believe in God.
It can be the God of the individual's own understanding.
And there is plenty in the Big Book to support that
belief. But my understanding today is that the Big Book
is the story of how many thousands of Men and Women have
recovered from alcoholism. That is what I read on the
first pages.
But the book was meant to be suggestive only and
so much more has been revealed. Numerous changes were
made at the last minute before the Big Book went to press.
The corrected manuscript is available for about $75.00.
I haven't seen it but I believe one of the most important
changes was from directions to path, as in those who follow our path. There is a tremendous difference in following a
path instead of directions.
And many more changes could have been made if there
had been time to do so. But in my opinion, the Big Book
is adequate as it stands. The book offers hope for any
alcoholic who wishes to get well. Even a slight desire,
or even a need to get sober qualifies any drinker for
membership in A.A.
Alcoholics Anonymous offers membership to any
alcoholic, whether they believe in Christ, or no God at
all. Until we return to that belief, alcoholics by the
thousands (millions) will continue to suffer, along
with their friends and families.
True Alcoholics Anonymous as hammered out on the
anvils of years of experience works its best as a non-
religious fellowship.
Many of the blunders we have made in A.A. have led
to our becoming a religion. The blunders have been listed
on I-SAY many times. Even the simple practice of sharing
by "show of hands" has harmed us severely. The sincere
believer in Christ has to get his/her point across, and
will always have a hand up.
I believe that God (of my own understanding) will
understand if we "Go easy on the God Stuff". I believe He
gave us this technique in the first place, through Bill W.
and Dr. Silkworth.
Welcome to the East Coast. Just don't stop coming
to meetings. I believe that we can return A.A. to a
fellowship of women and men. Be patient, but be persistent.
My area delegate tells me to keep sounding the alarm, and maybe others will hear and we can turn this ship around.
ANONYMOUS

it seems to me that meetings which appear to have a religious basis have given up the 'spiritualism' that bill w. and others talked and wrote about. they're mostly about people pushing doctrine. well we have a doctrine. it's called the 12 steps. and we have the traditions. there's no more room in the boat I'm afraid.

I try to read and understand what is written here. I suspect that this message has great meaning. I just don't
understand what it is. Alcoholics Anonymous is one of the
most religious groups that I know. But it was never intended that we form a new religion. Bill wrote that nothing could be as bad for AA's future. Religion requires
belief in something. AA does not. At least that is what
I read at a step meeting last evening.
If we follow the traditions, there will always be
plenty of room in the boat for any problem drinker
with a desire to get well.
Religious and spiritual share the same meaning. My
friends in AA are the most religious and spiritual
people that I know. ANONYMOUS

I sobered up in 1992. most meetings i've attended start the meeting with the serenity prayer,read how it works, and close with the Lords prayer.
I had a close friend who died about ten years ago with 52 years of sobriety. he told me one day that he remembered when they started saying the lords prayer at the end of meetings in the 70's.
Does anyone have information pertaining to when groups started reading how it works, closing with the lords prayer, or other local customs?

The way a group closes its meetings should be decided
by a fully informed group conscience. Of course, members
need to know what a group conscience decision is. This
process has been covered in previous messages and in the
12&12. If the majority of the members of the group
agree to close the meeting with the Lords prayer, that
is certainly acceptable. Holding hands in the "ring around
the rosy circle", practically forcing everyone to join in,
is what we are doing wrong.
If these decisions are made by the majority of the
group's members, each group would naturally operate
according to its local customs. This does require strong
leadership, not just a few power drivers. This same
principle should be used in all group decisions. Special
interest groups would simply evolve, without any formal
lable. If the majority of the members of a group are
young people, then the group would be a young peoples
group, without designating it as such. Unity is our
first tradition. KISS needs to be "Keep it Simple",
without calling anyone stupid. ANONYMOUS